Senior De'Angelo Alexander became the 21st player in school history to reach 1000 career points, Wednesday at Duquesne. |
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Alexander; Jamison Lead Charlotte Past Duquesne, 99-90
Feb. 21, 2007
Pittsburgh, Pa. - Senior De'Angelo Alexander scored a game-high 29 points, including the 1000th of his 49ers career and Charlotte overcame Duquesne's frenetic play to record a 99-90 road victory in Atlantic 10 play, Wednesday.
Junior Leemire Goldwire added 22 points for the 49ers (13-13; 6-7) and senior Jerell Jamison notched his first career double-double with a career-high 15 points and 10 rebounds.
Charlotte led by as many as 11 points in the first half and were still up by 10, 44-34 with possession of the ball and 1:20 to play in the half, before Duquesne forced three straight turnovers and ran off nine straight points to close the gap to one, 44-43, at the break. Duquesne scored the first four points of the second half to complete a 13-0 run and take a 47-44 lead with 19:11 still to play.
Trailing by one, 57-56, with 15:18 to play, Alexander nailed a three-pointer, Jamison scored on a putback and reserve Sean Phaler hit his third three of the game to give Charlotte a seven-point lead, 64-57.
Duquesne would close to within one, 71-70, with 9:14 to play, but a Courtney Williams tip in, an EJ Drayton layup and an Alexander dunk pushed the lead back to seven, 77-70, for the 49ers, with 7:42 to play.
Duquesne struck back, however, getting within two twice more, the last time coming at 85-83 with 4:17 to play. A Goldwire three and an Alexander dunk kept the Dukes at bay and Charlotte hit 7-of-8 free throws in the final 2:46 to ice the win.
Alexander added a breakway dunk off a steal with 22 seconds left to seal the win.
Charlotte won the battle of the boards, 46-38, after being tied at the half, 20-20. Charlotte shot .479 for the game and .419 from three-point range. The 49ers are 7-0 when they shoot over 40% from three-point range and 13-3 when they outrebound opponents.
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More importantly, Charlotte committed just 13 turnovers (5 in the decisive second half) against Duquesne's aggressive defense. Point guard Carlos Williams had a career-high 10 assists and just two turnovers.
Phaler came off the bench to score nine points, continuing his hot shooting of late. Phaler is averaging 8.7 points in the last three games and shooting .571 (8-of-14) from long range. Courtney Williams came off the bench to add six points on 3-of-3 shooting with five rebounds.
Charlotte has won its last three games that have been decided by 10 points or less.
Alexander becomes the 21st 49er to score 1000 career points and joins all-time greats Henry Williams, Lew Massey, Robert Earl Blue and George Jackson as the only 49ers to reach 1000 points in their first two seasons.
